Bobby Labonte, JTG Daugherty Racing, Duel No. 1 Post Race Report

Duel 1 Recap:

After starting 20th in Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway, Bobby Labonte’s first appearance in the top 10 was at lap 7 of the 150-mile qualifying race.  As the race advanced, his No. 47 Kroger/USO Toyota Camry was tight-handling off of Turn 4 during the 60-lap event at the 2.5-mile tri-oval. Also, when the 23-car pack made pit stops at different times, it broke the field up. Labonte came in alone at lap 38 for right-side tires. A caution around lap 52 involving Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Trevor Bayne and others brought the field back together. With four to go, NASCAR turned the field loose. Labonte was credited with a 11th-place finish.

Bobby Labonte Duel 1 Post Race Quotes:

“I thought we were in a good position, but then I was too conservative coming into the pits,” Labonte said. “I didn’t have anybody to judge off of. We got back out there and just missed catching the lead draft. I guess after it was all said and done the cars we were going to catch was in that wreck. We were far enough behind it to miss it and we almost finished in the top-10. It was a good day.

“The last three laps were the ultimate excitement going three-wide not knowing where to go,” Labonte continued. “We didn’t pit there at the end to put on tires. So, you are in a bad place having old tires, going three-wide while the car’s not handling as good. They all were probably handling a little rough. We had a respectable day and look forward to racing in the Daytona 500 on Sunday.”

JTG Racing PR